Home-Made School

The best part about having all three kids at "mommy's school" (other than the priceless amount time I get to spend with each child), is that Van calls me "Mommy-Teacher-Mommy." He only calls me this from about 9am-noon which is about how long our "home school" lasts. The nerdy preschool teacher mom inside of me loves it.

Here's a taste of what we have been up to! I highly recommend it.

We started with the basics. Trees. We read books about trees (The Giving Tree), picnics, and tea parties (Miss Spider's Tea Party) then took field trips to Fred Fletcher Park and Oak Grove plantation. There are goats, horses, tractors, and BIG open fields to roam filled with pecan trees. You cannot go wrong.

 We read about seeds and flowers (Little level 1 reader books from the $.99 bin at the Teach-Me store). The kids planted their own seeds and grew some daffodils!

Then it was St. Patrick's day so we read a book on the iPad about leprechauns and set some traps for them. We made shamrocks from their hand prints and painted them. We hunted for four-leaf-clovers in the front yard with a magnifying glass.

Insert about 5 days of cold weather and rain here. We got creative... we took many trips to the library (Van and I started reading "The Boxcar Children" series), we made lots of goodies... (cupcakes for Pop-pop's birthday!), practiced tracing letters, had some concerts, and did puzzles.

When I realized having all three kids at home-- all day long-- was a genuine long-term reality...I got a little more organized. We started a "spring" theme (Thanks Mary Rob). Butterflies, daffodils, birds, nests, caterpillars... This is truly a great time of the year to make some neat crafts, take lots of nature walks, and go on field trips to parks.

Bumblebee thumb prints

Toe-print caterpillars

Eat popsicles and make daffodils...

They collected leaves and made bird's nests. We went on a field trip to Logans and bought a bird feeder. The kids filled it up with seed and have enjoyed watching birds (and squirrels) come to our yard to eat.

Next I made a chore chart, manners poster, and a schedule. (These things probably should have come first, but I am learning slowly how to keep us clean, well-behaved and organized!)

We start our days with a Bible story and prayer. We have a small (5 minute) lesson about our topic (Easter, spring, raindrops, clouds, bunnies, eggs, frogs, etc...) then I read them a book about the topic. If we don't have a book that is applicable, I download one on the iPad. (The kids love this!)

We go over a letter and a number of the day. The iPad apps for letter phonics and numbers are incredible. Van practices writing each a few times. Jean-Margaret colors. Then we usually have a craft or field trip. Lastly, we exercise (dance parties and yoga on the rainy days...walks and outdoor time on the gorgeous days).

Believe it or not--that will get us to lunch time! I try to make a somewhat different lunch each day (incorporating new fruits/veggies/sandwiches) while we reflect on our day. I'll let the kids watch some TV or read, then we all rest. 99% of the time, I fall asleep with one of the kids.

Putting a little more effort in organizing the night before has made a world of difference the next morning. This week we played a "crack the egg" game...the kids had to poke open a construction paper-ed egg through some tin foil over a muffin pan. Each compartment had a chocolate coin with a picture on top. (Kite, bird, star...) Van had to tell me the sound each word started with in order to keep the chocolate. (He shared with JM).

Today we read "The Very Hungry Caterpillar"  and "The Itchy Scratchy Caterpillar" books, painted some cool worms (Van made a patterned-worm), then played "dig for worms!" (Thanks Bex). And I made them do their own version of the "itchy scratchy" caterpillar dance.

Digging for gummy worms in a big bowl of flour. They loved this.

I think mommy teacher mommy is going to miss her kids this fall!! :)

*Disclaimer... this has not been as smooth of a learning curve as it may appear in photos...there are many moments of TV [they watched Frozen about 5 times last week] and rowdy outdoor time when both kids are covered head-to-toe in mud, tears, scratches, and runny noses--most certainly Abe will be screaming...    yeah you get the picture.*


In other news, Abram turned FIVE months over the weekend.

He has been such a little trooper throughout this process. He loves having his big bro and sis around the house. He tries so hard to keep up with them and gets frustrated when his wiggles and scooches don't suffice. He is teething really badly and we are hoping he gets some teeth soon.

Van started TEE BALL and GUITAR LESSONS! Finally :)

Not so into the "catching" part... but loves to hit!

 Lastly--Evans and I took a much needed R&R trip to the beach...solo...need. one. again... soon. :)

Abram Hampton's Baptism

Sweet, peaceful, calm... these are NOT the words I would use to describe today. Turns out Abe's not a big fan of being baptized...

What do you want from me?
You expect me to skip my nap and look happy
 while an enormous church full of people stare at me?
No way!!

Lucky for us--it only happens once! 

Despite the crying session we endured, Van and Jean-Margaret performed their roles beautifully (escorting the minister and a screaming Abe up and down the aisle).

Not sure where Van gets his cracker appetite from... 

G-Mommy hosted a sweet luncheon with "all our whole family that I very very love" (as Van would say).

(I believe this game was called: "Pop Pop, smell this stinky horse!!")

We are grateful for Jenna and Harrison to serve as Abe's godparents and help us guide him through his wonderful life.

(And Jenna trucked through a 12-hr residency work shift to attend Abe's baptism--we love you!)

Thanks to Mary Beth who has now officially ended her role as the Lackey children's baptism elder (we hope) ;-)

This day got me thinking about Van and Jean-Margaret's baptisms. (Look how much they have all changed! So quickly!!)

We are so proud to have such a loving community to help us raise our children. We know we cannot do it alone. We love all our family (those near and VERMONT far ;-) and all our wonderful friends and all our children's wonderful godparents.

Abram-
We are PROUD of you, despite the tears, and know that God will have your heart no matter how you behave. You are the most precious surprise our family could ever imagine and we love you!!

My First Taste of Home-Schooling

This has not been a proactive decision. The choice to "home-school" (as much as you can a 2 and 4 year old) is a result of many complicated logistical and behavioral frustrations we were banging into head-first every day since Abe was born. I want to blog about it to remember my thought process and/or help any one else out there who may be experiencing something similar. (The pictures are in no order...just an attempt to keep up with our goings-on from the past month!)

When we first found out we were pregnant, I immediately registered Van and Jean-Margaret for 5 days of preschool each. The closer we got to school starting, I cut them each back...Van to 3 days a week and Jean-Margaret to 2 days a week. After we spent such a fun summer together, I knew I would miss them too much if they were gone every morning.

School did not go so well for Miss Jeanie. She started off okay--then after witnessing some kids throw up and tantrum all day--she was not a happy camper. She stopped eating at school and sucked her thumb in the corner the entire time. We tried a few different efforts to make her more comfortable and decided it was just best to keep her at home this year and try again later. She is such a sweet little "helper" it didn't really seem like a difficult decision. The pediatrician assured us the only thing she would be "missing out" on is a few extra germs and viruses...so not to worry about socialization (since she has siblings).

Fast forward to November--life with a 1 month old and a stay-at-home 1.5 year old and a 4 year old who was only in school 3 days a week...mama realized she needed some extra help! We decided Van was probably ready to go to preschool 5 days a week. He was fine at first, but after having him home for Christmas break (and lots of snow days) we noticed he was growing more hesitant about returning to school.

His behavior grew worse and Evans and I realized he was feeling left out of our family. He started to understand that Jeanie and Abe were home with me (or with G-Mommy!!)  while he was in school. He was trying so hard to get our attention, he resorted to some pretty challenging behavior.

Van's first (of hopefully many) neighborhood concerts

I have to remind myself frequently that although he is an amazing, wonderful, dependable, smart, sweet little fella...he is still only four years old. I should not expect him to adjust to becoming one of three just because he already adjusted to becoming one of two.

Three kids takes up so much of my attention that it feels a lot more demanding than splitting your time in half or even into thirds.

We pulled him back to three days a week to see if that would help. I realized the days he was home were WAY easier and more flowed more smoothly than the days he was going to school. There is NO way to get a napping infant, busy toddler, and stubborn/unwilling 4 year old into the car by 9:00. (and if  you are in this predicament and figure it out--please enlighten me!)

The preschool doors lock at 9:15 am. On our absolute best days, I was getting him to school around 9:30. Since the doors already locked by this time, we had to go in the front entrance which is farther from the preschool. I had to get the stroller out of the car, carry Jean-Margaret, and hold Van's hand. We walked around the building, up to the second floor, took Van potty, washed his hands (preschool regulations), hung up his coat and back pack, and dropped him off. By the time I got both babies back in the car and back to the house it was after 10.

We would have 2 hours at home before time to pick him up from school--the doors unlocked from 12:15-12:30. Usually by noon, I found myself scrambling to feed Jean-Margaret lunch, feed Abe, keep them awake and go through the pick up drill all over again. We would get home just in time for Jean-Margaret and Abe to have their afternoon naps.

By 1:00, I had not taken a deep breath all day long. The day was crazy! In order to get a moment to myself/straighten the house/ eat lunch/fold an ounce of laundry...I had to put Van in his room for "down time" so the children's naps would overlap. Van does not sleep much any more so he would listen to music. By the time Abe woke up (usually around 1:30) Van would be ready to hang out. It's hard to give a 4 year old the attention he needs when you are feeding an infant/changing diapers/curbing fussiness. Especially when Jean-Margaret was up the next hour.

Abe's first cereal bites

By the time Abe went back down for his last nap of the day--I could finally give Van the attention he had been craving all day. I realized I have an enthusiastic, fun, inquisitive little four year old--who wants to learn so much. The time I get to spend with Van helps reaffirm why I wanted to be a mom in the first place! I love to teach my kids new things and I find it so fulfilling to watch them learn. Being a mom of a four year old is FUN. It's so neat to play with them and hear what is going on in their creative imaginations. Being a mom of a four year old AND two babies...their behavior can suddenly seem demanding and overwhelming.

 In order to enjoy my time with him and take our days at their own, chaotic pace...I needed to have more time with Van. Life is [a little bit] easier when our days begin in a more peaceful state.

For the remainder of the year and summer, I am attempting to keep all three at home. Preschool is not cheap so we are using some of the money we save to hire a babysitter. I have purchased (upon recommendation) a child's first encyclopedia, dictionary, backyard bird and tree guides, and a few workbooks. We go on lots of "nature walks" and library trips and try to learn what we can. Meal times are FUN and engaging. Not rushed and hurried.

We do yoga, build tents, paint, play dress up, cook, play with Sophie...

... all of the simple things we never had time to do before. I feel less like a demanding dictator who chauffeurs her children all day...and more like a nurturing mother.  Life is NOT easy...nor do I expect it to be, and definitely far from perfect, but for our lives are a little bit more at peace.

FIRST EAGLES CONCERT!!

Bowling 

Is it Van or Abram?

Van's Bible presentation at Church